1959

1964

Serpent of Fire at La Feria Chapultepec Magico in Mexico City becomes the first roller coaster to stand 100-feet tall. It remained the tallest ride in the world for over a decade. It was also the third and last coaster built with a mobius track.

1968

1972

1975

The world's first modern looping roller coaster opens at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA. The Corkscrew designed by Arrow Dynamics featured two inversions. It was removed in 1989 and relocated to Silverwood Park in Athol, Idaho in 1990 where it continues to operate today.

1976

Revolution at Magic Mountain in Valencia, California opens. Anton Schwarzkopf and Intamin designed the Revolution with the first vertical loop.

1977

Anton Schwarzkopf introduces the first weight drop "Shuttle Loop" coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA. King Kobra was removed in 1986. Since then it has operated at Jolly Roger Amusement Park, Alton Towers and now Hopi Hari in San Paolo, Brazil.

1980

Orient Express at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City opens and is the first roller coaster in the world to feature a boomerang dual-inversion element. Orient Express closed on October 26, 2003.

1981

The legendary Bat roller coaster opens at Kings Island in Cincinnati, OH. It was the first suspended roller coaster designed by Arrow Dynamics. Major design problems forced its closure only three years later.

1982

Viper at Darien Lake in Darien Center, NY opens. It is the world's first roller coaster to feature five inversions.

The first of Vekoma's many Boomerang roller coasters opens at Reino Aventura park in Mexico City. This shuttle coaster features three inversions, but was the first roller coaster to send riders upside down six times. The train passes through the three inversions going both forwards and backwards during a cycle.

1982

The world's first stand-up roller coaster opens in Japan.

1984

Arrow Dynamics failed stand-up coaster opens at Six Flags Mid-America in St. Louis.

1985

Phoenix opens at Knoebels in Elysburg, PA. It was relocated from Playland Park in San Antonio, TX.

1987

Vortex at Kings Island opens. Designed by Arrow Dynamics it was the first roller coaster to feature six inversions.

Medusa the world's first Floorless roller coaster from Swiss designers Bolliger and Mabillard opens at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ.

1998

Monte Makaya opens at Terra Encantada in Rio de Janeiro and is the second roller coaster to have eight inversions.

Oblivion, the world's first vertical drop coaster from Swiss designers Bolliger and Mabillard, opens at Alton Towers in England.

1999

South America's first wooden roller coaster Montezum opens at Hopi Hari in San Paolo, Brazil.

2000

Goliath opens (Feb) at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It features the world's largest drop (255 feet) and is the tallest (235-feet) and fastest full-circuit roller coaster in North America.

Millennium Force opens (May) at Cedar Point. This Intamin "Giga-Coaster" stands 310-feet tall, and features a 300-foot drop and top speed of 92 mph. It becomes the world's tallest, fastest and largest drop for a full-circuit roller coaster.

Katun at Mirabilandia in Ravenna, Italy opens and is the first B&M Inverted roller coaster on mainland Europe.

Son of Beast opens at Paramount's Kings Island. It is the first wooden roller coaster to feature an inversion (vertical loop). It also debuts as the world's tallest (218-feet), fastest (78-mph) wooden coaster and has the world's largest drop (204-feet).

Vekoma introduces the world's first Flying coaster, Stealth at Paramount's Great America in Santa Clara, CA.

Steel Dragon 2000 opens (August) at Nagashima Spaland in Japan and breaks the world records for height (318-feet), drop (307-feet), length (8,133 feet) and speed (95 mph) for a full-circuit steel roller coaster. Unfortunately, the ride closed after a non-fatal accident in 2003.

2001

HyperSonic XLC, the world's first compressed air launched roller coaster opens at Paramount's Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA. It featured the world's fastest acceleration for a roller coaster at 0 - 80 mph in 1.8 seconds and the first over-the-top "Top Hat" element. It was also the first roller coaster designed by Utah based S&S Power.

X designed by Arrow Dynamics opens (December 24, 2001) at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It is the world's first 4th Dimension roller coaster with independently controlled flipping seats.

2002

Bolliger and Mabillard unveil their first Flying coaster, Air, at Alton Towers in England.

Colossus opens at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England. It is the first roller coaster to feature ten inversions.

Superman Ride of Steel, Europe's first "Floorless" roller coaster from Bolliger and Mabillard opens at Warner Bros. Movie World in Madrid, Spain.

Xcelerator Intamin's first "Rocket Coaster" using a hydraulic launch system opens at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA. The hydraulic launch system accelerates the trains from 0 to 82 mph in under 2 seconds.

2003

Top Thrill Dragster opens at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH. The second Intamin "Rocket Coaster" debuts at the world's tallest (420-feet), fastest (120 mph) roller coaster. It also features the world's largest drop (400-feet).

Vild-Svinet opens at BonBon Land in Demark and is the first roller coaster to feature an inverted drop at a 97-degree angle.

2005

Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ opens. Designed by Intamin this "Rocket Coaster" takes the honor of being the tallest (456 feet), fastest (128 mph) roller coaster in the world. It also has the world's largest drop (418-feet).